ROLE OF EDUCATION IN SOCIETY - FUNCTIONALISTS Flashcards
What does Durkheim say about social solidarity?
Society needs a sense of solidarity. Without social solidarity, social life and cooperation would be impossible. The education system helps to create social solidarity by transmitting society’s culture. School acts as a ‘society in miniature’ preparing us for life in wider society.
What does Durkheim say about Specialist skills?
Modern industrial economies have a complex division of labour, where the production of even a single item usually involves the cooperation of many different specialists. He argues that educations teaches individuals this specialist knoweldge and the skills needed for the social division of labour.
What does Parsons say about the role of education?
School acts as a bridge between family and wider society. Family and society operate in different ways, so children need to learn a new way of living to be able to cope with the wider world. This is done through school having similar rules and principles as in wider society, e.g: judged on same standard, status is achieved not ascribed and universal rules that must be followed.
What do Davis and Moore say about role allocation?
School performs the function of selecting and allocating pupils to their future work roles. By assessing individuals’ aptitudes and abilities, schools help to match them to the job they are best suited to. - ‘Sifts and sorts’
What is the Human Capital?
Peter Blau and Otis Duncan - a modern economy depends for its prosperity on using its workers skills. They argue a meritocratic education system does this best.
How does Melvin Tumin criticise Davis and Moore?
He says they bring forward a circular argument. Q: How do we know a job is important? A: Highly rewarded
Q: Why are jobs highly rewarded? A: Because they are important
How does Dennis Wrong disagree with this perspective?
Argues that functionalists have an ‘over-socialised view’ of people as mere puppets of society. Functionalists wrongly imply that pupils passively accept all they are taught and never reject the school’s values
